Andor's Trail

@wyrm, the only time I ever had to resort to hit/run tactics was once I encountered the Irdeghs and Spiders. Even the 300+ HP guys were possible without it (although I usually resorted to h/r just to make it easier and use less potions).

Really? Strangely enough, my quickstrike build had to use lots of save-cheating and hit-and-run to get around... Although he could get to Blackwater mountain 5 levels ahead of my balanced builds, and 2 levels ahead of my favourite rhino builds, he never seemed to radiate the pure awesomeness of 12 DR, or the steadiness of my balanced builds. But whenever new content comes out, I always start with a quickstrike build, as they're definitely the fastest builds to set up.

I had fairly high AD on my QS build which I think is part of the solution. Your AC really only needs to be 80-90% higher than the monster's BC in order to have a decent chance at hitting them and then you can put nearly everything else in AD. Evasion also helped because it meant that I nearly always got the first attack.

I chose HP, but actually I have decent crit (just equipment, no skills, between 20% and 23% ECC), ok AC, high BC and nearly max Bark Skin (but not using all +1 DR eq I have, actually only the shield) next to getting IF as soon as I can. I only have one point in Regeneration and Corpse eater though. Jack of All Trades build I'd say

Only thing needed to level up yet are resistance against status effects and/or cleave and/or evasion and/or crits... levels keep coming while grinding L/E gear so in the end will probably master most of all...

I've chosen quickstrike but my build is actually both quickstrike and (a little bit) HP as they are both low commitment cost.

Eventualy I'm going to look into cleave, but I'm waiting for the 7.0 modifications to hardhit before I do.

On this build I wanted every HP I could get. Good AC and AD. As I rarely drop under 550 HP block class has been neglected. 3 points of corpse eater 1 in regeneration + a RoLS takes care of healing until we are faced with stronger foes. Some really hard enemies would really spice things up. Some danger would be great.

put that under "other". What do you like about the BW build? not that I don't like, just curious for some insight. thanks.

Duke wrote:put that under "other". What do you like about the BW build? not that I don't like, just curious for some insight. thanks.

Well, I've always been a defensive build oriented guy and the Blackwater build provides this plus offense. I will like it more with dual wielding.
There is a Blackwater thread I posted to 2 weeks ago. Take a look.

well up until the rotworm quest where i was facing monsters with regen i was using the quickstrike build. When i wasnt hitting enough or with enough power (AC and AD where what i focused on at level up) and was eventually starting to die a lot, i switched to a crit build and found i was able to beat them.

my skills are all just in more criticals, better criticals, and quickstrike